BACKGROUND:Cellular pyroptosis is an important pathological mechanism of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.Buyang Huanwu Tang is a classic formula for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke in traditional Chinese medicine,and cellular pyroptosis may be an effective target of Buyang Huanwu Tang in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tang on pyroptosis in brain tissues of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion rats.METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group.Except for the sham operation group,all groups were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion for ischemia for 2 hours and reperfusion for 72 hours.The rats in the Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group were continuously gavaged with the corresponding volume of drugs until ischemia and reperfusion for 72 hours after awakening from the modeling,once in the morning and once in the evening.Zea Longa score was used to observe the neurological deficits of rats.TTC staining was performed to observe cerebral infarct size in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the brain tissue.Immunofluorescence was used to observe the co-expression of Tunel and Cleaved-Caspase-1 in the brain tissue and the expression of the junction protein ASC.Immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in rat brain tissues.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham operation group,the neurological deficit score of rats was significantly higher in the model group(P<0.01),and compared with the model group,the neurological deficit score of rats was significantly lower in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group(P<0.01).(2)Compared with the model group,the volume ratio of cerebral infarction was lower in the Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group(P<0.01).(3)In the model group,the nuclei of neuronal cells in the brain tissue were deeply stained or lysed,and arrangement of the cells was disorganized.Compared with the model group,the pathologic damage of the brain was less severe in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group.(4)Compared with the sham operation group,the number of Tunel and Cleaved-Caspase-1 double-positive cells and immunofluorescence intensity of ASC in the brain tissue was significantly increased in the model group,and the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-1,NLRP3,interleukin 18,and interleukin 1β was significantly elevated in the model group(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of Cleaved-Caspase-1 and Tunel double-positive cells,immunofluorescence intensity of ASC,and the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-1,NLRP3,interleukin 18,and interleukin 1β were all significantly decreased in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group(P<0.01).The results indicate that Buyang Huanwu Tang and its monarch drug Astragalus membranaceus can effectively alleviate brain tissue injury in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of neuronal cell pyroptosis.

BACKGROUND:Cellular pyroptosis is an important pathological mechanism of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.Buyang Huanwu Tang is a classic formula for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke in traditional Chinese medicine,and cellular pyroptosis may be an effective target of Buyang Huanwu Tang in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tang on pyroptosis in brain tissues of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion rats.METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group.Except for the sham operation group,all groups were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion for ischemia for 2 hours and reperfusion for 72 hours.The rats in the Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group were continuously gavaged with the corresponding volume of drugs until ischemia and reperfusion for 72 hours after awakening from the modeling,once in the morning and once in the evening.Zea Longa score was used to observe the neurological deficits of rats.TTC staining was performed to observe cerebral infarct size in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the brain tissue.Immunofluorescence was used to observe the co-expression of Tunel and Cleaved-Caspase-1 in the brain tissue and the expression of the junction protein ASC.Immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in rat brain tissues.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham operation group,the neurological deficit score of rats was significantly higher in the model group(P<0.01),and compared with the model group,the neurological deficit score of rats was significantly lower in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group(P<0.01).(2)Compared with the model group,the volume ratio of cerebral infarction was lower in the Astragalus membranaceus group and Buyang Huanwu Tang group(P<0.01).(3)In the model group,the nuclei of neuronal cells in the brain tissue were deeply stained or lysed,and arrangement of the cells was disorganized.Compared with the model group,the pathologic damage of the brain was less severe in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group.(4)Compared with the sham operation group,the number of Tunel and Cleaved-Caspase-1 double-positive cells and immunofluorescence intensity of ASC in the brain tissue was significantly increased in the model group,and the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-1,NLRP3,interleukin 18,and interleukin 1β was significantly elevated in the model group(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of Cleaved-Caspase-1 and Tunel double-positive cells,immunofluorescence intensity of ASC,and the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-1,NLRP3,interleukin 18,and interleukin 1β were all significantly decreased in the Buyang Huanwu Tang group and the Astragalus membranaceus group(P<0.01).The results indicate that Buyang Huanwu Tang and its monarch drug Astragalus membranaceus can effectively alleviate brain tissue injury in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of neuronal cell pyroptosis.

AIM:To establish a population phar-macokinetic(PPK)model of high-dose methotrex-ate in pediatric patients with diverse malignancies.METHODS:The PPK model of methotrexate was de-veloped using non-linear mixed-effects model;body surface area(BSA)was incorporated by allo-metric size modelling.RESULTS:A two-compart-ment linear model best fitted the concentration da-ta,typical values for clearance(CL)and central compartment distribution volume(Vd)were re-vealed to be 4.51 L/(h·1.73 m2)and 15.47 L/1.73 m2,respectively.Age,BSA,serum creatinine(SCr)and genotypes of ABCC2 rs717620 and ABCC4 rs2274407 were retained in the final model.CON-CLUSION:Age,BSA,SCr and genotypes of ABCC2 rs717620 and ABCC4 rs2274407 were identified to be significantly affecting the clearance.

A chemical investigation of secondary metabolites (SMs) from Aspergillus nidulans resulted in the identification of five novel dioxopiperazine (DKP)-diphenyl ether hybrids, designated as diphenylemestrins A-E (1-5). These compounds 1-5 represent the first known dimers combining DKP and diphenyl ether structures, with compound 4 featuring an uncommon dibenzofuran as the diphenyl ether component. The structural elucidation and determination of absolute stereochemistry were accomplished through spectroscopic analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Notably, diphenylemestrin C (3) exhibited moderate cytostatic activity against NB4 cells, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 21.99 μmol·L^-1, and induced apoptosis at higher concentrations.
Aspergillus nidulans/metabolism* ; Diketopiperazines/pharmacology* ; Molecular Structure ; Phenyl Ethers/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor

As a type of acute cerebrovascular disease,stroke is one of the most common fatal and disabling diseases in the world,which seriously threatens the quality of life of patients;however,there are still limited treatment methods for this disease in clinical practice.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has a long history and good efficacy in the treatment of stroke,and the active components of TCM can alleviate nerve injury caused by stroke by improving the development and progression of various pathophysiological mechanisms such as nerve inflammation,oxidative stress,and blood-brain barrier damage.This article reviews the role of active components of TCM in the treatment of ischemic stroke,in order to provide more ideas and options for the clinical treatment of this disease in the future.

AIM:To establish a population phar-macokinetic(PPK)model of high-dose methotrex-ate in pediatric patients with diverse malignancies.METHODS:The PPK model of methotrexate was de-veloped using non-linear mixed-effects model;body surface area(BSA)was incorporated by allo-metric size modelling.RESULTS:A two-compart-ment linear model best fitted the concentration da-ta,typical values for clearance(CL)and central compartment distribution volume(Vd)were re-vealed to be 4.51 L/(h·1.73 m2)and 15.47 L/1.73 m2,respectively.Age,BSA,serum creatinine(SCr)and genotypes of ABCC2 rs717620 and ABCC4 rs2274407 were retained in the final model.CON-CLUSION:Age,BSA,SCr and genotypes of ABCC2 rs717620 and ABCC4 rs2274407 were identified to be significantly affecting the clearance.

Objective:To assess the understanding level of Family Resilience Scale for Schizophrenic Patients among respondents using cognitive interviews and revise the items accordingly.Methods:Using the purposive sampling method, two cognitive interviews were conducted on schizophrenia patients admitted to Chifeng An Ding Hospital from April to June 2023. A Question Appraisal System (QAS-99) was used to encode the interview data to find the problems existing in the scale structure, and at the same time, the scale items were revised based on expert opinions.Results:The first round of cognitive interviews showed ten questions, mainly focusing on "clarification"questions. The results of the second round of cognitive interviews showed that all respondents could correctly understand the scale items revised by the first round of lognitive interviews, and no further revision was required. The final Family Resilience Scale for Schizophrenic Patients included 24 items.Conclusions:Cognitive interviews can help to find and solve the differences in the understanding of items between researchers and interviewees in the compilation of the Family Resilience Scale for Schizophrenic Patients so as to improve the accuracy and reliability of the scale.

Objective:To elucidate the primary elements pertaining to the perception of relapse risk and to in-vestigate the characteristics and alterations of perception of the risk of recurrence in patients with schizophrenia.Methods:By using the method of phenomenological study,semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted among schizophrenic patients with first onset,first recurrence and multiple recurrences.Twenty-three 23 outpatient and inpatient cases that met the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition(DSM-5)were included,and all patients had PANSS scores below 60.The interview data were collated and analyzed according to Colaizzi analysis.Results:The perception of recurrence risk in patients with schizophrenia en-compassed 4 major themes and 11 sub-themes,namely susceptibility(limited overall understanding,transition from optimism to objectivity),detection of early warning symptoms(dynamic escalation,assistance from family mem-bers in identification),understanding risk factors(lack of understanding,the relationship between psychosocial fac-tors and relapse,dynamic understanding of medication-relapse relationship),and apprehension of the consequences of recurrence(care burden and financial constraints,impaired social functioning and maladjustment,impact on pub-lic safety,personal health risks).Conclusion:The content of risk perception of recurrence in patients with schizo-phrenia is relatively substantial.The overall level of risk perception of recurrence in patients with schizophrenia is low.

A case of adult spindle cell sarcoma with NTRK3-C22orf34 gene fusion is reported. The patient, a 35-year-old-male, developed lateral swelling of the right thigh without obvious inducement 7 months before admission and was not accompa-nied by limited movement. The patient was diagnosed with adult spindle cell sarcoma with NTRK3-C22orf34 gene fusion based on the medical history, imaging findings, histomorphology, immunohistochemistry and molecular phenotype. The patients underwent tumor resection without drug-targeted therapy and followed up for 8 months after tumor resection and survived without tumor. In recent years, the number of adult spindle cell sarcomas with neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 3 (NTRK3) gene fusions have been increasing year by year, and most of them are difficult to diagnose based on HE sections due to the varied morphology and small number of these tumors. With the wide application of high-throughput sequencing in soft tissue tumors, the difficulty of diagnosis of spindle cell tumors with the NTRK fusion gene has decreased. High-throughput sequencing of the patient showed that NTRK3-C22orf34 (mutation abundance 5%) gene fusion combined with BRCA1 (mutation abundance 15%) rearrangement and deletion of CDKN2A and TP53 genes were found to be of definite or potential clinical significance. The morphologic spectrum of NTRK fusion spindle cell tumors, especially sarcomas, is still evolving. Treatment of NTRK fusion gene spindle cell tumors is based on surgical resection in combination with tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors. The emergence of secondary or acquired resistance is primarily associated with point mutations associated with the structural domain of the kinase, and mutations may reduce the efficacy of TRK inhibitors.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of postoperative severe hypocalcemia (SH) occur-rence in the patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) treated by ultrasound-guided radiofrequen-cy ablation (RFA).Methods A total of 41 patients with SHPT receiving RFA treatment in the Affiliated Nanchong Central Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from May 2019 to March 2023 were selected as the study subjects.The retrospective analysis was adopted to collect the data such as the basic information,disease information,laboratory and imagiological examination.The patients were divided into the SH group and non-SH group according to whether or not the corrected serum calcium level being lower than 1.8 mmol/L on 1 d after RFA.The univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the related risk factors of SH occurrence after RFA.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to test the predictive efficiency of the related risk factors.Results There were 41 patients with SHPT,inclu-ding 19 males and 22 females,with an average age of (49.56±13.64)years old,and 22 cases developed SH on 1 d after RFA.The univariate analysis results showed that preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP),C-reac-tive protein (CRP),parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium levels had statistical differences between the two groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that ALP was an independent risk factor for postoperative SH occurrence.The area under the curve (AUC) of adopting ALP for predicting SH occurrence after RFA in the patients with SHPT was 0.895,and the best predicted cut-off value was 323.34 U/L.Conclusion Paying attention to the level of ALP before operation and correcting it reasonably could be conducive to reduce the incidence rate of postoperative SH.